Acanthurus tristis

Taxonomy

Acanthurus tristis was first formally described in 1993 by the American ichthyologist John Ernest Randall with its type locality given as Lively Rocks off Trincomalee on the east coast of Sri Lanka. The genus Acanthurus is one of two genera in the tribe Acanthurini which is one of three tribes in the subfamily Acanthurinae which is one of two subfamilies in the family Acanthuridae.

Etymology

Acanthurus tristis has the specific name tristis, meaning "sad". This is thought to be a reference to the grey, subdued "mournful" colour of adults. The name was first used in an unpublished manuscript and painting by Samuel Tickell, subsequently being mentioned by Francis Day in 1888 who also described its ashy colour, although Day classified Tickell's name as a synonym of Acanthurus tennenti.

Description

Acanthurus tristis has its dorsal fin supported by 8 rays and 27 or 28 (typically 27) soft rays while the anal fin is supported by 3 spines and between 22 and 29 soft rays. The juveniles are Batesian mimics of Centropyge eibli and are pale brown coloured with orange stripes on the sides, with an orange chest, orange ring around the eye and orange margins to the dorsal and anal fins. The caudal fin also mimics that of C. eibli being black with a bright blue rear margin. The maximum published total length of this species is 25 cm.

Distribution and habitat

Acanthurus tristis is found in the eastern Indian Ocean. It is found from the Maldives and Chagos Archipelago east to the Andaman Sea and south to Java. In Australian waters it is found at Christmas Island. This species occurs in seaward and lagoon reefs at depths between 2 and in areas of mixed sand, coral rubble and rock.

Utilisation

Acanthurus tristis is part of the aquarium trade.

References

References

1. Abesamis, R.. (2012). "''Acanthurus tristis''".
2. {{Cof genus
3. (2016). "Fishes of the World". Wiley.
4. (12 January 2021). "Order ACANTHURIFORMES (part 2): Families EPHIPPIDAE, LEIOGNATHIDAE, SCATOPHAGIDAE, ANTIGONIIDAE, SIGANIDAE, CAPROIDAE, LUVARIDAE, ZANCLIDAE and ACANTHURIDAE". Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara.
5. Randall, J. E.. (1993). "''Acanthurus tristis'', a valid Indian Ocean surgeonfish (Perciformes: Acanthuridae)". The J.L.B Smith Institute of Ichthyology Special Publication.
6. Bray, D.J.. (2022). "''Acanthurus tristis''". Museums Victoria.
7. Jeremy Gay. (21 June 2023). "Try Acanthurus tristis – The Indian Mimic Surgeonfish". Reef Builders.
8. {{FishBase. Acanthurus. tristis. (2023)